Tennis Industry News

Throughout September, new and returning tennis players will have the opportunity to hit the courts for free during the industry-supported "Try Tennis for Free" campaign. The effort, managed by the Tennis Industry Association (TIA), is being driven through the PlayTennis.com website, where consumers can quickly and easily find participating facilities and tennis coaches.

With an emphasis on reaching and connecting with families, and in celebration of Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play, the USTA is offering a gift-card incentive for tennis providers who sign up to offer a Free Tennis Play Event for the month of September. Providers should go to YouthTennis.com/Host or call 800-990-8772. The promotion ends Sept. 30.

Throughout September, new and returning tennis players will have the opportunity to hit the courts for free during the industry-supported "Try Tennis for Free" campaign. The effort, managed by the Tennis Industry Association (TIA), is being driven through the PlayTennis.com website, where consumers can quickly and easily find participating facilities and tennis coaches. The September campaign builds on the success of the industry's previous "Try Tennis for Free" campaign, which was held during the month of May. Providers who want to sign up to participate in Try Tennis Free this September can do so by clicking here.

Since its relaunch last year by the Tennis Industry Association (TIA), PlayTennis.com continues to evolve in its ability to connect current and new players to the sport. The free, interactive website is accessible on all digital platforms—computers, tablets, and mobile phones— and allows beginners and tennis players of any ability level to find tennis programs, courts, partners, teaching professionals, retailers, gear, leagues, tournaments and instructional content.

More than 1.54 million Americans took to the tennis courts last year to participate in the popular and growing Cardio Tennis program, according to the Physical Activity Council (PAC) 2014 Participation Report.

Tennis is the only traditional participation sport to be ranked in the Top 10 in terms of participation growth, out of nearly 120 sports and activities surveyed in the recently released Physical Activity Council (PAC) 2014 Participation Report. In the U.S., tennis grew by 658,000 players, or 4%, in the last year, to bring total tennis participation to 17.68 million players, according to PAC data.

PHIT America is pleased to report that there is progress to report in Washington, D.C. on pro-physical activity legislation. The Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act has a ‘score,’ which is necessary for any federal legislation which impacts taxation. The Congressional Budget Office has given the PHIT Act (H.R. 956) a ‘score’ of just more than $2.5 billion, over a ten-year period.

This coming September tennis facilities and coaches from across the country will be encouraging new players to get into the game with the "Try Tennis for Free" campaign. This promotion is a continuation of the successful joint efforts of the TIA, USPTA's Tennis Across America, and the PTR this past May.

The Tennis Industry Association will be launching a new online industry resource, the TIA Business Directory, designed to help quickly locate products, services, and information tennis industry professionals and tennis players seek. You can access the TIA Business Directory at TennisIndustry.org soon.

In May, hundreds of tennis facilities and teaching pros joined the “Try Tennis for Free” campaign that was driven through PlayTennis.com and designed to get more consumers into the game. Now, that successful campaign will be offered again in September.